This past season, the Nebraska basketball team was much tougher than Trev Alberts has seen before from Fred Hoiberg, and is convinced of progress.
While the Nebraska basketball team finished with a .500 record, that particular mark was the best in the Fred Hoiberg era. And it’s not the only thing that his supporters, including the Huskers AD points to as the reason that the embattled coach gets a fifth season in Lincoln.
When it comes to Nebraska basketball, there were a lot of superlatives used in describing why the Huskers’ had a different vibe in the 2022-23 season. Toughness and competitiveness were the adjectives used most often.
Alberts spoke about the progress he saw from Nebraska basketball this season during his weekly radio appearance earlier this week.
Trev Alberts said on Huskers Radio Network he was pleased with the progress Fred Hoiberg and staff made this year. Also noted the important offseason ahead for putting together next year's roster.
— Brian Christopherson (@Husker247BC) March 29, 2023
“What I was pleased with was to see the resiliency and the fight… I thought they had good unity, were a much tougher team, and they played good defense.”
Alberts went on to say that the fight and the excellent defense was something that reflected the values of Nebraskans.
It’s not surprising that Alberts would focus in on the defense. It’s also not the first time. During the Nebraska basketball season, he was so impressed with the defense of new Husker arrivals Emmanuel Bandoumel and Juwan Gary that he gave them honorary Blackshirts after they led the Cornhuskers to a win over rival Creighton.
Nebraska basketball still has work to do
While Alberts was almost overly positive about the job that Hoiberg did this past season, he did make it clear that the progress this year needed to continue. The Huskers’ AD added that Hoiberg is going to have to reshape the roster once again and make it a contending team.
As of now, the Nebraska basketball team has only lost players and gotten more holes in the roster. At some point, that will hopefully change. It could change soon if a point guard like Kerr Kriisa defies the experts and picks the Huskers over West Virginia or Xavier.